Last Modified: Wednesday, February 1, 2006 at 12:58 p.m.

The Ellender Memorial girls basketball team is the top ranked team in Class 5A, according to the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association poll released on Tuesday.

It has a 26-5 record, and with a come-from-behind District 6-5A victory over H.L. Bourgeois on Tuesday night, is 11-0 in district play and well on its way to another District 6-5A title.

Ellender got a scare from the Lady Braves and had to come back from 11 points down with six minutes to play in order to take the 62-54 victory.

The Lady Patriots were outplayed for three quarters.

"I hope it was a lesson," Ellender coach Kenneth Dixon said. "We can learn a lot from this. H.L. Bourgeois wanted it. They wanted a piece of that district championship. They came out and played hard."

But instead it looks like Ellender will have the district crown and the No. 1 seed from District 6-5A heading into the playoffs.

Donít be fooled, when nothing less than a state title equals success, district titles, good-looking records and No. 1 rankings donít mean much.

"No," Dixon said. "Not when youíve got to go through New Orleans and teams like John Ehret, Destrehan, East St. John and then Southwood (Shreveport). Maybe if we get out of that. Maybe if weíre No. 1 in March, maybe then. But right now I donít want the girls to get over confidant. There are plenty of good teams out there."

Dixon may have reason to be concerned, working with such a young team and all.

Kara Ezell and Hernika McCoy are the only two seniors.

On Tuesday against H.L. Bourgeois, he started a junior, two sophomores and two freshmen.

The junior was Brittany Lewis, the sophomores were Deana Allen, who scored 25 points, and DaíJeane Jones, and the freshmen were Latica Smith and Kerry Hampton.

Ezell and Asia Williams came off the bench to help.

So Dixon is looking for his young team to get even better through experience.

"Thatís what the hard work is all about," Dixon said. "Down the road they are going to be even better ball players. Hopefully, weíre learning a little basketball."

With their best player from last season Sasha Staidum, an all-state performer, now playing at Tulane, some may have it found hard to believe that Ellender could be better this season.

H.L. Bourgeois girls coach Kenny Delcambre was not one of those people.

"I said this at the end of last year and people looked at me like I was crazy," Delcambre said. "No disrespect to Sasha Staidum, because she is a great player, but I told people Ellender would be better than they were last year because those young kids are so good."

Delcambre, along with the rest of the girls coaches who qualify for the Class 5A playoffs, will be keeping close watch of where Ellender is in the bracket.

"I hope we get to play them again in the Sweet 16," Delcambre said. "But regardless of what happens, Iím going to be pulling for them. I like that team. They can play. Coach Dixon is a hell of a coach, and Iím looking forward to watching their progress in the playoffs. They have as good a shot as anybody. They are a little young. They lack some experience, but they make up for that lack of experience with a ton of talent."

Courier sports writer Kelly McElroy can be reached at 857-2211 or kelly.mcelroy@houmatoday.com.

<p>They lost their best player from last season.</p><p>They have all of two seniors on their roster.</p><p>They play one of the toughest nondistrict schedules of anyone.</p><p>And they’re still No. 1.</p><p>The Ellender Memorial girls basketball team is the top ranked team in Class 5A, according to the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association poll released on Tuesday.</p><p>It has a 26-5 record, and with a come-from-behind District 6-5A victory over H.L. Bourgeois on Tuesday night, is 11-0 in district play and well on its way to another District 6-5A title.</p><p>Ellender got a scare from the Lady Braves and had to come back from 11 points down with six minutes to play in order to take the 62-54 victory.</p><p>The Lady Patriots were outplayed for three quarters.</p><p>"I hope it was a lesson," Ellender coach Kenneth Dixon said. "We can learn a lot from this. H.L. Bourgeois wanted it. They wanted a piece of that district championship. They came out and played hard."</p><p>But instead it looks like Ellender will have the district crown and the No. 1 seed from District 6-5A heading into the playoffs.</p><p>Don’t be fooled, when nothing less than a state title equals success, district titles, good-looking records and No. 1 rankings don’t mean much.</p><p>"No," Dixon said. "Not when you’ve got to go through New Orleans and teams like John Ehret, Destrehan, East St. John and then Southwood (Shreveport). Maybe if we get out of that. Maybe if we’re No. 1 in March, maybe then. But right now I don’t want the girls to get over confidant. There are plenty of good teams out there."</p><p>Dixon may have reason to be concerned, working with such a young team and all.</p><p>Kara Ezell and Hernika McCoy are the only two seniors.</p><p>On Tuesday against H.L. Bourgeois, he started a junior, two sophomores and two freshmen.</p><p>The junior was Brittany Lewis, the sophomores were Deana Allen, who scored 25 points, and Da’Jeane Jones, and the freshmen were Latica Smith and Kerry Hampton.</p><p>Ezell and Asia Williams came off the bench to help.</p><p>So Dixon is looking for his young team to get even better through experience.</p><p>"That’s what the hard work is all about," Dixon said. "Down the road they are going to be even better ball players. Hopefully, we’re learning a little basketball."</p><p>With their best player from last season Sasha Staidum, an all-state performer, now playing at Tulane, some may have it found hard to believe that Ellender could be better this season.</p><p>H.L. Bourgeois girls coach Kenny Delcambre was not one of those people.</p><p>"I said this at the end of last year and people looked at me like I was crazy," Delcambre said. "No disrespect to Sasha Staidum, because she is a great player, but I told people Ellender would be better than they were last year because those young kids are so good."</p><p>Delcambre, along with the rest of the girls coaches who qualify for the Class 5A playoffs, will be keeping close watch of where Ellender is in the bracket.</p><p>"I hope we get to play them again in the Sweet 16," Delcambre said. "But regardless of what happens, I’m going to be pulling for them. I like that team. They can play. Coach Dixon is a hell of a coach, and I’m looking forward to watching their progress in the playoffs. They have as good a shot as anybody. They are a little young. They lack some experience, but they make up for that lack of experience with a ton of talent."</p><p>Courier sports writer Kelly McElroy can be reached at 857-2211 or kelly.mcelroy@houmatoday.com.</p>